Sonic Sum Films

Progressive Bronx-based act Sonic Sum released one of the most criminally slept-on albums of the indie hip-hop boom: 2000’s The Sanity Annex. This atmospheric LP was followed up with Films in 2002, but to critics’ and fans’ dismay, it was only available overseas. To spare everyone the ridiculous import prices Def Jux is re-releasing Sonic Sum’s sophomore set, which in comparison is more complex but not always as pleasing as The Sanity Annex. Frontman Rob Sonic’s observational poetry is certainly more intricate yet his raps and production can become too jumbled. The best material comes when Rob and his crewmates allow a little sonic breathing room, as they do on the outstanding and well-paced cinematic track “Negatives.”